Pope Benedict XVI has said that Christians refuse to bow down by “false gods” imposed by the state not because of an “antiquated worldview” but because they are “inspired by such a noble vision of human destiny that they cannot collude with anything that undermines it”.

He said: “From the Emperor cult of ancient Rome to the totalitarian regimes of the last century, Caesar has tried to take the place of God. When Christians refuse to bow down before the false gods proposed today, it is not because of an antiquated worldview. Rather, it is because they are free from the constraints of ideology and inspired by such a noble vision of human destiny that they cannot collude with anything that undermines it.”

The Pope also said the birth of Christ “challenges us to reassess our priorities, our values, our very way of life”, adding: “While Christmas is undoubtedly a time of great joy, it is also an occasion for deep reflection, even an examination of conscience. At the end of a year that has meant economic hardship for many, what can we learn from the humility, the poverty, the simplicity of the crib scene?”

The Pope’s article came about after a request from the Financial Times. It is thought to be the first time a pope has written for a secular newspaper.

Oh, if only we could return to those heady days. I admire the Popes thinking, but we really need some dramatic statement just now, perhaps. ” Pope breaks off relations with UK governement unless it drops the nonsense of gay marriage “. Now that would be demonstrative stuff.
We only have weeks to stop this farcical bill, If you are opposed and for good reason. E Mail, The PM directly. just enter contact No 10. Flood them with opposition if you can.

timothy canezaro

I know Pope Benedict has challenged United States Catholics to bring our Faith into the public square. Good to see he is leading by example and publishing in a secular newspaper for the first time. Bless the Universal Church this Advent season!

savvy

You have to first start with convincing people by arguments. I do think we are on the winning side, in the long run, because the opposition resorts to emotional arguments that are not convincing.

Parasum

“Pope says in Financial Times article: Christians are compelled to resist incursions of state”

## But not, it seems, the incursions of Churchmen. Funny, that.

Charles

Most humans are religious by nature; if they don´t worship a deity then they will worship themselves; this could come in the form of worshiping the state, material things, status, or philosophies. Cameron is just as superstitious in his faith to his state worship religion as a follower of Zeus. Since Christianity is historical and not mythological, a Christian is less superstitious than a liberal who has no evidence for his faith. We must resist the superstition of liberal State worship.

stan zorin

The ‘opposition’ is not willing to listen to the likes of you. They will not listen to your arguments, they do not have to because they are in the seat of power of the state. They will only postpone, temporarily, their agenda if faced by an organized force or if some craftily made political ‘spanner’ falls into their satanic clockwork. A few letters here and there or some protests mean nothing to them.

Gildaswiseman

A great link, Thank you!

David Kennedy

Stan, I don’t doubt you’re right, but power isn’t the only force at work here. Grace is always gnawing away at the structures of false teaching, and brings them down in the end. Of course, there will always be new falsities, but they too face the same fate.

Fr. Thomas Poovathinkal

“The Pope’s article came about after a request from the Financial Times.
It is thought to be the first time a pope has written for a secular
newspaper.”

THE POPES getting out of VATICAN was NOT A SIN; rather it was a positive and GOD-WARD ACT.
It made the POPES relevant to human life and history and made them agents and mediators of GOD’S SALVATION through THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, JESUS CHRIST.

THE POPES remaining PRISONERS OF VATICAN must have made THE OLD GUARDS THEREIN very happy; but it was not so with THE PEOPLE OF GOD. Similarly OUR PRESENT POPE writing in a non-religious newspaper is joyous event for THE PEOPLE OF GOD. And if ALL THE BISHOPS do follow THE POPE’S example, it can make a difference. BUT THEN, THE BISHOPS should come out of their inward looking and self-sufficient life and MUST FEEL the need to be relevant TO HUMAN LIFE AND HISTORY.

Robin Leslie

Well I wish Pope Benedict would spend as much energy on bringing about the downfall
of the neo-liberal tyranny of money and Corporate power. We live in a One Party State
in UK Plc (all three mainstream parties share the same market ideology) and government
has become ‘the administration of things’ as in the USA) and Vaclav Havel was right (Power
of the powerless) in predicting the emergence of a totalitarian West after the collapse of Communism. If Benedict XV1 spent as much time and energy undermining tyrannical
neo-liberalism (market Capitalism) as John Paul 11 did in undermining Communism
I might be impressed. As it stands one-off statements don’t dig out the root cause of liberal consumerism, practical materialism and the fake relationships this gives rise to!